National Property Inspections of Rochester, NY Blog

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The building of tighter homes, those with less airflow through the structure, has reduced heating and cooling costs, but has also increased the potential for moisture problems.

Sealing the leaks from the heating space into the attic dramatically reduces heating costs and limits the amount of moisture seeping into the attic.

Reduce excess sources of moisture in your home, especially during the winter, by addressing the following factors:

• Clothes dryers should always be vented to the outdoors

• Do not use humidifiers to maintain comfortable levels of indoor relative humidity in a well-insulated home.

• Never store large volumes of firewood within the heated area of the home. Even if it appears to be dry, firewood can contain significant amounts of water.

• Exhaust fans in bathrooms, kitchens, etc. must be operating correctly.

• Installing child proof electrical outlet caps is an excellent way of reducing air movement and moisture into the wall cavity.

Periodically check your attic during the winter for condensation, frost and any other signs of moisture.

http://www.npiweb.com/sansone

http://www.npiweb.com/sansone

Inadequate insulation means that 10 to 50 percent of energy is lost through walls, ceilings and floors. Proper insulation helps lower energy bills by resisting heat movement through the barrier. Where the interior of walls and ceilings is easily accessible, adding insulation can be a relatively inexpensive way to get a big return on energy savings.

The first place to look for missing insulation is in the attic. Attics, in general, are fairly accessible, but in many homes, even newer homes, insulation is inadequate. As part of a general home inspection, a National Property Inspections professional will examine the type of insulation present and its approximate thickness or “R-value.”

The inspector will also examine (if the attic is accessible) the attic interior, including: roofing, framing, sheathing, insulation, ventilation and chimneys. Any visible signs of moisture intrusion will be noted. The attic is a key element in the home’s ventilation system.

The NPI inspector will also look for areas of safety concerns to ensure proper rating and installation of canned or recessed lighting in order to prevent overheating and possible fires.

http://www.npiweb.com/sansone

http://www.npiweb.com/sansone

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) estimates that 15,500 fires associated with clothes dryers occur annually.

The lack of maintenance is a contributing factor to clothes dryer fires. People are not cleaning lint traps as often as they should and are not checking and cleaning vent systems on a periodical basis.

Here are some basic clothes dryer safety tips:

• Clean the lint before or after each load. Don’t forget to clean the back of the dryer.

• The interior of the dryer and venting system should be cleaned periodically by qualified service personnel.

• Replace plastic or vinyl exhaust hoses with rigid or flexible metal venting.

• Do not dry clothing/fabric on which there is anything flammable, such as alcohol, cooking oils or gasoline.

By following the previous safety tips and implementing proper maintenance to your clothes dryer, you can help avoid the serious risks associated with clothes dryer fires.

http://www.npiweb.com/sansone